Hopkins June Newsletter

7/28/2019 Hopkins June Newsletter

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Year of Faith! June 24, 2013

Mabuhay Bienvenidos, Welcome

We went into this last school

year with uncertainty and a lack

of resources but we made it

through. Last August, Spanish II students

eagerly entered the classroom to finish their

foreign language requirement and Spanish I

students came to learn a new language they were

curious about. Some had heard that the Spanishclasses were fun, some were just ready to kick

back, and the students new to Faith Academy

were wide-eyed and unsure of what was going to

happen next. The week leading up to classes

involved furniture moving and preparing the

classroom. The first four weeks of school I

spent a lot of time coordinating with the other

foreign language teachers helping them settle

into their classrooms and work spaces and

manage their administrative tasks. I think I did

not get seated at my desk and focus on my own

lessons plans until September. Soon after that I

found out I would be sharing the classroom and

so I shifted my work area to the back office and

this took some getting used to.

Twelve students returned from the previous

year to take Spanish level II. About seven other

students tried to get into the class but could not

fit it into their schedules. Spanish level I

quickly filled to capacity of 24, which meant

that some students would have to wait until nextyear for Spanish.

My focus was to make sure and

set the tone and structure right

off the bat so that we would not

struggle with behavioral and

organizational issues.

Spanish level 1 class, Faith Academy Campus

I implemented a seating chart but left room to be flexible and

students loved me for not breaking them up from their buddies or

of their comfort zones. I think level II could have been pushed

more over the course of the year to a higher level, but this w

challenge for me in that I had many different levels of learning in

classroom.

Highlights of the year, a farewell to a student from Spanish I

left part way through the year to Ireland. All students shared

this student impacted their lives. There were tears and pray

Level II had a returning student from furlough in Texas wh

everyone warmly welcomed. Mrs. Rivette was able to join us ag

more frequently in the second Semester, and help with two days

of the week so I could do lesson planning and work on a gradu

class. I also was without a sitter so I stayed home with Astrid tho



days. Students watched cooking travel shows,

enjoyed cooking at the end of the year, created

blogs in Spanish, researched Spanish speaking

countries, presented with PowerPoint and Prezis,

skits, role-plays, sang a song, made weather

maps and broadcasted the weather in Spanish.

This year unfortunately we were not able to

make it to the historical city Intramuros, in

Manila, but students were able to partake in an

immersion experience on campus.

Additional Spanish classes were taught by a

returning Spanish teacher from Korea, we had a

small group of five students in level 1, and three

students in level 3 (I.G.), and one student in level

4 (A.P.). Graduation this year was highlighted

with quite a few mentions of Spanish

achievement and recognition including two high-

level students going onto universities in the U.S.,

Wheaton and University of North Carolina.

Spanish Level II Class

With all the busyness it’s a wonder how the rest

of our lives kept going. At the end of July last

year we were at less than 50% of our donations

and unsure if we could commit to the school year.

After a few meetings with the principal and some

time in prayer we decided to commit to levels I &

II and go forward in Faith for God’s provision.

Looking back on the year Kyle and I can bothsay it was a Year of Faith because we felt we did

not have what we needed in order to accomplish

what we had before us and we had to go forward

trusting God to provide. Soon after classes began

we were offered a house near school for about four

months. This gave us some time with reduced rent

costs and less travel time and expense. It was a

transition for the kids but everyone seemed ready

Students participating in an Activity

to try out living in a more rural setting outside of the city and clos

to the school. Soon after our move Kyle was offered a position w

an American-Filipino owned company. We were still without a c

and so when we heard a car was waiting for our use, we were

relieved and happy.

November I decided to start a three-part course for the remain

of my graduate work for a Master’s in Education. The first class

all November. This came with challenges but thankfully at that

our other needs were met so I felt everyone could keep stand

December it was time to find a house and settle and Kyle and I

did not have funds to do this and we felt he could not handle

commute from where we were so after several discussions

decided to go back to where we originally lived hoping that the k

would not feel yet another move but rather just a return to their

home. For the move I found the extra help needed when t

Filipino women said they were eager to work for extra Christ

money for their grandchildren and a new baby on the way. So I

helping hands to pack, clean-up, watch the kids, and we were coosome warm meals. This was the only way I was able to celeb

Christmas and have some rest during the vacation.

Spanish classroom, December 2012

Semester two started busy carrying us through end May with

much down time. Kyle was not signed-on for a long term con

with the company so from April he has not been working. At

time we were still



All School Prayer, Last Day of School

without a sitter for Astrid so Kyle was able to

help care for her April-June. He also helped in

the classroom and with the immersion experience

for the.panish level II class that ran about two and

half weeks.

The year ended with a sprint, we were able to

finish all the grammar and material I was hoping

(thanks for the prayers!) and take a final exam.

Students did well and I was pleased with our

review time, also that the students who needed to

come in beforehand made the time, and Mrs.

Rivette was also able to work with students.

Level II students wrote essays on Environmental

Problems, and all did a good job! I was pleased

with the pre-writing practice and decisions made

leading up. It was a lot to put together in short

time. We also had a good-bye to Mrs. Rivette;

she has finished her two years serving abroad inmissions and will return to her home in Georgia.

Level II students organized a very nicely done

poster with goodbye letters and pictures and we

took a group photo. Level I had a class party and

each said their thank-yous and goodbyes,

mentioning she was like a mother to them.

High School Buidling, May 2013

I managed to get popcorn, pizza, and once a week hot chocolate

reward to students throughout the year. This was important to

because I know some have long days and don’t all have sufficient m

throughout the week. So an added snack helps, or something wa

greatly appreciated. It also keeps them talking in Spanish especia

the afternoon period.

This was the year of being technologically challenged for me. M

iPhone broke, my plan to incorporate the iPad into my daily les

implementation fell through (with no iPad), and my laptop alm

died a few times, dropped several times by Astrid including that

screen was damaged when she tried to be a good girl and h

mommy with her work by cleaning the laptop screen with nail pol

remover. Looking back with all these things considered I think G

was showing me how to get things done shorthanded. Some day

wondered why I was not back in the U.S. trying to do all this. M

Spring I think a light bulb switched on that schooling is public in

of the U.S. and there is such a thing as teacher salaries.

This year was very different from last year. I most certainly hculture shock. I made agreements with myself that no matter h

savvy I was in other countries I had been before, culture shock

culture shock and it could not be avoided. I thought I kn

Philippines because I knew Filipinos outside the country, but t

proved quite wrong.

Students on last day of school, May 2013

With all that said, this year also brought lovely things. I had ti

to connect with the students and also work with struggling stude

enough for showed improvement in attitude, personal confidence, a

academically. We attended a Bible study group, all Filipinos fr

Manila, some have lived in California. I have had one Filipino frie

since November 2011 who I get to celebrate with now as she

expecting a long hoped for girl in July. Many months were sp

talking about having a girl, and praying for her to have a girl (a

really praying so she would not be let down …with some angst

there). She also was open to go to church with me



and pray and discuss God a bit more. We have

continued to make closer relationships with

Filipinos and expatriates outside of the Faith

Academy circle.

Other blessings included a visit from Kyle’s

parents in January and a trip to Subic Bay, an

aquatic park for Toby’s birthday, an invite to a

home on the coast near Subic (north of Manila),

and a trip to Baguio (up in the hills). Also, moretime with Kyle near since April and surprise

tickets home to enjoy the Summer in Iowa! Other

blessings and surprises that really only God could

conjure up and were a result of answered prayers

from all.

Overall a growing appreciation of our

churches and communities back home praying for

us. A deeper understanding of the value of

people back home caring and dedicated beyond

the financial support. The longer we are out of

our country the more we realize we need our roots

and the support of our people. That has only been

made possible by continued contact and

relationship with all of you!

I always grow stronger in devotion to my

country after living in the chaos and broken

systems of lesser developed countries. God helps

me appreciate what we have back in the U.S.

After our time in Vietnam and now Philippines, I

feel I walk the grounds our guys walked once

before. It’s like an empty history but I still canhear their voices and jokes and maybe even just a

bit how they felt with the humid air, bright colors,

strange new tastes, and unknown paths ahead.

With warm regards and blessings to all,

Kyle, Sunshine, Tobias, Astrid Hopkins

June 2013 Philippines

Ben Cab Art Museum, Baguio City, March 2013

Our Contact: Kyle, Sunshine, Tobias, Astrid Hopki

Email:[email protected]

[email protected]

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Hopkins Teach Beyond

Blog:

http://hopkinsteachbeyond.blogspot.com

Skype:

sunshine.hopkins kyle.hopkins

Phone:

360-499-2925Permanent Address:

PO Box 434 Eastsound, WA 98245 USA

WA, 98245 USA

Faith Academ



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